Doctors move at a hospital in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

The medical school quota for the next year will be increased to a maximum of 1,509 additional spaces, as 31 out of 32 medical schools that plan to expand, have confirmed their recruitment figures Thursday.

The Ministry of Education and the Korean Council for University Education unveiled the university admissions implementation plan for the upcoming year, based on submissions from medical schools nationwide.

Out of the 32 universities, 31 have finalized plans to add a combined total of 1,469 students.

Depending on Cha University's decision, which has not decided on its recruitment numbers, the expanding of the medical school quota will range from a minimum of 1,489 to a maximum of 1,509.

Cha University, a medical graduate school, initially proposed expanding by 40 students. However, if the university opts to recruit the maximum allowed, the total expanded medical school quota could reach 1,509. Nevertheless, if they choose to expand by only 50 percent, the minimum allowed, the total number will reach 1,489 additional spaces.

The projected total number of medical school applications in 2025 is estimated to be between 4,547 and 4,567, including the existing recruitment quota and the proposed increases.

Nine national universities located outside metropolitan areas such as Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon plan to recruit only 50 percent of the proposed quota hike.

Conversely, most private universities intend to fill all additional positions. This decision stems from private universities' comparatively smaller increase in their quota compared to national universities and the impact that medical school recruitment can have on their reputation.

Meanwhile, the fate of medical reforms and the proposed increase to the medical school quota still remains uncertain due to ongoing differences between the government and the doctors' group.

Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong urged doctors to join a special committee to find common ground amid a prolonged standoff over medical reforms.

However, Lim Hyun-taek, the new chief of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), pledged to pressure the government to reconsider the expansion of medical school student numbers.

During his inauguration speech on Thursday, Lim emphasized that his focus is on promoting and protecting the rights of KMA members.

"I will confront any challenges to enhance the fundamental rights of our medical professionals. And I will implement a systematic and robust operational system to address the complex and challenging legal issues in the medical field," he said.

"We are committed to rectifying various unjust policies, such as the proposed increase of 2,000 medical school quota, and redirecting these policies toward a more suitable direction."

Some medical professors, who are senior doctors at university hospitals, also began a weekly stop-work day from this week, suspending outpatient clinics and surgeries in support of the walkout by trainee doctors.